The Wheatsheaf, Crowborough

The Wheatsheaf is the closest pub to Crowborough Railway Station, but it’s a hike from the town centre. Smaller than the outside suggests, this is an attractive Harvey’s pub with a U-shaped bar counter to the right of the entrance. This faces seating and an inglenook to the left, bar seating to the rear and the saloon bar down some steps to the right where there’s a copper log burner. Many of the tables were reserved for later in the evening during my recent Thursday visit, I think it may have been steak night. The seven hand pumps around the bar counter were drawing Old Ale, Armada, Harvey’s Best and the 7.5% Christmas Ale. A traditional old school boozer that is well worth a look.

Very attractive, and suitably traditional, Harvey's pub in the Jarvis Brook area near Crowborough station but down the hill from the town. Slightly split-level arrangement of three seating areas around the central counter. Also has a terraced beer garden. With three of four handpumps in use, I found Sussex, Wharf IPA (£4.60) and a seasonal beer being dispensed.

This is essentially a country pub on the outskirts of Crowborough. Having said that it really isn't that far from Crowborough Station, probably a five minute walk for anyone that isn't a shambolic wreck like myself. If you turn left out of the station and follow the road through the industrial estate there is a short footpath at the end that leads to the pub. It's a lovely weather boarded old place that I suspect was originally owned by the Brighton branch of Watney's. Inside there is a central bar with three areas off it. At the side of the rear area is a small room with some speakers stashed in a corner. The front area is carpeted and the rear area has a brick floor while the rest has wooden floorboards. I assume the reason for the brick floor is that there is a massive open fireplace at the end. There was a collection of non-Harvey's pump clips on display which I thought was rather odd as there were no guest ales. This pub also has an outside Gent's which admittedly is only a few yards from the pub door but still counts as far as I'm concerned. Sadly there were no leaves that needed sweeping away, probably because it was early summer. It became a Harvey's pub in 1998. There were four Harvey's beers on, Best, Mild, IPA and Copperwheat. I had a couple of pints of Copperwheat (£3.80), the first of which was rather tired and hadn't been pulled through and the second which was better but not as good as the one I had at their East Grinstead outlet a fortnight earlier and it was more expwensive. It's a lovely old pub but sadly the beer quality means it only gets an 8 rather than a 9. It's GBG 2015 listed.

Official site of the Wheatsheaf, includes real ale list and details of annual beer festival - www.wheatsheafcrowborough.co.uk